1. An alterna… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that have used the name Electric Six
1. An alternative rock band from the United States
2. A musical group from South Africa
1. Electric Six is a six-piece Detroit-based rock band consisting of Dick Valentine (vocals), Tait Nucleus? (synthesizers), Johhny Na$hinal (guitar), Da Ve (guitar), Percussion World (drums), and Smorgasboard (bass) who play a mix of rock, funk and disco.
The band's first notorious formation comprised Valentine, Rock and Roll Indian (guitar), Surge Joebot (guitar), Disco (bass, former member of Detroit Cobras), and M (drums). Dick Valentine (real name Tyler Spencer) has always been the primary songwriter (both music and lyrics) of Electric Six, currently and under their former incarnation, when they were known as the Wildbunch. During the band's temporary split at the end of the 1990s, Spencer formed his own band called The Dirty Shame and released one CD entitled Smog Cutter Love Story which featured, among other tracks, a first version of Fire track "Vengeance and Fashion". The band reformed by 2001 to record and release the first release of 'Danger! High Voltage' and record the track 'Dealin' With Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord' with Troy Gregory for his Sybil album.
Electric Six fuses rock and punk with the laid-back funky rhythms and falsetto vocals of disco, and a distinctly comic touch. However, they tend to reject such genre classifications as disco-metal and disco punk. They formed the band in 1996 and were initially known as The Wildbunch, eventually dropping that name due to pressure from the Bristol trip-hop collection of the same name. Throughout the latter half of the '90s, they played about once a month at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Magic Stick, and the now-defunct Gold Dollar in Detroit, the center of a scene that produced breakout acts like the White Stripes.
Electric Six's 2002 breakout single "Danger! High Voltage" was an infectious dance-rock number, and Jack White from The White Stripes helped sing back up vocals to this track. White has denied this, though Spencer has confirmed it in several interviews. The single reached number 2 on the UK singles chart, and they enjoy icon status in that nation.
Their second single, "Gay Bar", released in 2003, became a hit as well in the UK, reaching #5 in the charts and further aided the group's growth. Curiously, in the American Radio Edit of this track, The words "Nuclear War" are censored with whip-crack sound effects. After fulfilling their recording duties (namely their debut album) three members left in June, leaving Dick Valentine, Tait Nucleus? (synthesizer), and M.
The Colonel (Zach Shipps, guitar, ex-member of Brendan Benson and Mood Elevator), John R Dequindre (guitar and whose stage name is a combination of two Detroit streets) and Frank Lloyd Bonaventure (bass) subsequently joined the group, though they had all been credited on the album and most had been associated with the group for some time. At that time, they were touring in the UK, and they managed to seamlessly replace the members without interrupting the gigs. In time, Johnny Na$hinal joined the group on guitar, Dequindre switched to bass, and Bonaventure switched to law school.
The band's sophomore album, Señor Smoke, was released in the UK on February 14, 2005. Percussion World replaced M on drums around the same time.
The first single from the album put the band at the center of controversy, especially with Queen fans following a cover of the Queen hit song "Radio Ga Ga". The controversial music video shows lead singer Dick Valentine as the ghost of Queen's flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury and a backing band of poodles. Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who wrote the song, said that he was "unimpressed" with the video; however, Queen guitarist Brian May reportedly liked it. Electric Six claims they were contractually obligated to commit the song to the album. Issues with Warner Brothers caused a switch to Metropolis Records, who released Señor Smoke in the US.
Switzerland was released in September 2006. A plethora of videos have also been released, and a fan contribution contest led to the video for the single "I Buy the Drugs."
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master was released in October 2007. Their next album, titled Flashy, was released in October 2008. In October 2009, their sixth album, KILL, was released. The 7th album, Zodiac was released on September 28, 2010, with one tour-exclusive single ("Jam it in the Hole") and the 8th, Heartbeats and Brainwaves, on October 11th 2011.
A double live album is set for release in 2012.
2. Electric Six was a Soweto-based South African combo active in the 1960s and 1970s
I Need a Restaurant
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a lady with a foreign hairstyle
I thought she'd be the perfect foil
For my protagonist...
But meanwhile she told me her name was Chaka
And she smiled while trying not to smile
I snuck another shot of Binaca
And now I filed her in the mystery file with
All the other brain-washers (ooh)
My blood on the seat of my '74 Impala, four door
My love obviously going to make you move and holler for more
Oh-oh I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
I'm meeting potential buyers
When stopped before I could drink my coffee
Now I'm putting out her fires
And I just can't get her monkey off me
Time for a new set of tires
To drive me to a new city
Surround myself with new liars
And build a new monstrosity
On which to land my helicopter (Ooh)
My blood on the seat of my '74 Impala, four door
My love obviously going to make you move and holler for more
Oh-oh I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
I need a restaurant
Big, big business at the makers, make
Dirty, dirty business at the takers, take
I hate to see you die for a rookie mistake
Stuffing your face with uranium cake
You know I can't take it when you're running late
I'm setting you a trap but forgot the bait
I see my fucking food but I've gotta wait
I see my fucking food but I've gotta wait
Oh no!
Oh no!
GO!
The song "I Need a Restaurant" by Electric Six is a catchy and upbeat track that tells the story of the singer traveling to foreign soil to meet potential buyers, but getting distracted by a woman named Chaka with a foreign hairstyle. Despite his initial interest, he becomes suspicious of her and groups her with "brain-washers" in his mystery file. The song takes a surrealistic turn with the singer landing his helicopter on a new monstrosity and lamenting the dirty business of the "takers" while waiting for his food.
The lyrics of the song seem to be a critique of capitalist greed and power dynamics. The singer's obsession with consuming and acquiring things is contrasted with his distrust of the people he encounters. The reference to uranium cake could be seen as a comment on the dangers and consequences of exploiting natural resources for profit. The singer's desire for a restaurant could also be interpreted as a symbol of the emptiness and lack of meaning in his materialistic pursuits.
Overall, "I Need a Restaurant" is a fun and lively track with deeper themes and commentary on society and human nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Arriving on foreign soil
Upon arriving in an unfamiliar place
I see a lady with a foreign hairstyle
The singer sees a woman with a distinctive hairstyle from that region
I thought she'd be the perfect foil
The singer believed the woman would make a good contrast or opponent for his protagonist
For my protagonist...
For the main character in his story
But meanwhile she told me her name was Chaka
However, the woman introduced herself as Chaka
And she smiled while trying not to smile
Chaka smiled in a way that suggested she was hiding something
I snuck another shot of Binaca
The singer discreetly used a breath freshening spray
And now I filed her in the mystery file with
He mentally categorized her as an enigmatic person
All the other brain-washers (ooh)
Grouping her with other people he perceives as manipulative or deceptive
My blood on the seat of my '74 Impala, four door
The artist's blood is on his car's seat, possibly indicating a violent incident
My love obviously going to make you move and holler for more
The singer's passion or energy will compel others to act and demand more
Oh-oh I need a restaurant
The artist desires a place to eat
I'm meeting potential buyers
The singer is meeting with potential customers
When stopped before I could drink my coffee
The singer was interrupted before being able to have his coffee
Now I'm putting out her fires
The singer is trying to solve the problems of the person who interrupted him
And I just can't get her monkey off me
The artist cannot seem to shake off the person who disrupted him
Time for a new set of tires
It is time for the artist to get new tires for his car
To drive me to a new city
So he can travel to a different place
Surround myself with new liars
The singer plans to be around different deceitful people
And build a new monstrosity
He intends to create something that is abnormal, strange, or disturbing
On which to land my helicopter (Ooh)
The artist has a helicopter and needs a place to touch down
Big, big business at the makers, make
Large-scale business is created by those who produce goods
Dirty, dirty business at the takers, take
People who take things partake in dishonorable behavior
I hate to see you die for a rookie mistake
The artist does not want to see someone perish due to a foolish error
Stuffing your face with uranium cake
Eating or indulging in something radioactive or toxic
You know I can't take it when you're running late
The singer cannot tolerate when someone is tardy
I'm setting you a trap but forgot the bait
The singer is attempting to trick or deceive someone but has forgotten an important element
I see my fucking food but I've gotta wait
The artist can see their meal but is still waiting for it to arrive
Oh no!
An expression of disappointment or frustration
GO!
An indication to start or move forward
Contributed by Bentley F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
clawplach32
They keep making music and keep blowing my mind.
SeyMotor
Some people say that weasle words are great!